Article for introducing materials in a metallurgical bath



R. TURNBULL 1,869,925

ARTICLE FOR INTRODUCING MATERIALS IN A METALLURGICAL BATH Aug. 2, 1932..

Filed Sept. 24, 1930 R O T N E V m M A TORNEYS Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNlTED STATES PATENT", OFFICE ROBERT TUBNBULL, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- HENTS, TO HUGH C. SIGARID, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ABITIGLE FOR INTRODUCING KATEBIALS IN A MET$LLUBQICAL BATH.

Application filed September 24, 1930. Serial No. 483,986.

- other desired substances into a predetermined metal, such as'ferrous metals.

f pens,

nace does not form the desired final product In producin alloys of iron with silicon, manganese, p osphorous, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, tantalum, boron, chromium, molybdenum, and other elements of this general character, diificulties are encountered because these alloying elements tend to combine with other elements alloy with iron; or example silicon, manganese, phosphorous and the like, tend to burn out as the oxides in the atmosphere of the melting or smelting furnace while cobalt, chromium, tungsten, and other elements of this nature tend to combine with the carbon present in the smelting furnace before combining with the material introduced into the furin which the exact percentages of the alloying materialin the iron may be accurately predetermined.

To obviate the above difiiculties, it has been proposed in the art to enclose the alloying or other material in sheet metal cans but this has not proved satisfactory because the can is either melted or broken before the alloying material reaches its melting point. It has also been roposed in the prior art to cast the alloying or other material into blocks which are broken u in relatively small pieces and then bind t e small pieces together by the use of a refractory material, such as lime and cement, in the form of a paste or liquid, molding the same into blocks or shapes and permitting the molded blocks to dry. "This method also hasits disadvan tages-in that the coating is broken from the particles during the handling of the material and frequently the blocks are broken open during charging, so that the alloying material is not properly protected. It is obvious that the blocks undergo rough treatment since they are introduced into the cu-. pola or other furnace with other charging material and are subjected to attrition and shocks due to the dropping of the material resent before forming an the metal bath. Where this happreferably, the container does not disintegrate, at a tem erature lower than the combining point 0 the alloying or other material with the bath, this alloying material will be at a combining temperature when the container disintegrates. Therefore, the alloying material is protected thoroughly until it enters the molten iron bath without danger of contamination from the gases or materials in the furnace.

Another important feature of the present invention is that the exact amount of the alloying or other material may be weighed out and predetermined before the container is sealed so that an exact analytical determination may be made of the amount of alloying, or other material being introduced into the molten bath. This is not possible where it is attempted to coat broken up particles of alloying material with refractory covering matter, because the proportion of coating is variable. Furthermore, less expensive materials may be utilized by the present method in View of the fact that, for example, instead of using silico-man'ganese, an exact amount of ferro-silicon and an exact amount of ferromanganese may be weighed out and either sealed into a single container or these alloyingjmaterials may be introduced into the charge of the furnace as separate packages, one containing ferro-silicon and the other ferro-manganese and in this way, the same result is obtained as would be obtained if the more expensive material silico-manganese were use Various materials may be used in making the container so long as these materials are sufiiciently strong and are not harmful to the metal bath, or so long as they do not change its final proportion. Preferably, refractory materials which go off into the slag, such as Portland cement, lime, clay, fused bauxite, carborundum, or other inert refractory material capable of being molded into a strong container, are most desirable for forming the container for the alloying or other material. Portland cement is one material which is particularly adapted forforming the container, and if desired, a small amount of lime ma be mixed with wet Portland cement from which the container is being molded or shaped. Preferably, these containers are made up from wet cement cast or shaped in suitable molds, then, the alloying or other material in a predetermined amount is intro duced into the dried container, and the container is sealed in any desired manner, preferably, with the same or other refractory material, for example, wet Portland cement, from which the container is made, to form a solid hermatically sealed ackage. The container may be wet when lled and sealed, or the container may be dried before being filled and sealed. The finished sealed container is then thoroughly dried and-is ready for intro-. duction into the furnace. Where desired, the container may be reenforced by suitable metal mesh, wire, or reenforcement.

Where a material is used in a cupola fur-- nace, a predetermined number of the containers carrying a predetermined amount of the substance to be introduced, are mixed with a predetermined weight of charge for the furnace and the entire mass is charged 'iron bath without any danger whatever of contamination from the various elements present in the furnace.

Preferably,'the alloying materials on the interior of the container are in granular form which is a convenient form in which to measure or weigh the alloying material being compactly placed in each sealed container.

It is to be understood that the present invention ma be practiced by slight variations from the disclosure herewith, which disclosure is to be understood as illustrative, and

not in the limiting sense.

the containers are made in such size that the alloying material compactly fills the container except for that space which is to be used for the closure of the container. Preferably, the opening in the container is sealed by a seal 4 of the same or similar material from which the container is formed. This material, for example, a mixture of Portland cement or other refractories is placed in position in wet form to seal the container and then thoroughly dried in order to thoroughly interlock and seal the closure member with the container body, in the body, so that lugs 5 may extend from the closure member into these recesses to hold the closure member 4, securely in place after the container is sealed.

Where desired, the container may contain reenforcement members 6 in the body of the container and reenforcement members 7 may also be placed in theclosure.

lVhere the several alloying materials are designated herein, it is to be understood that the terms do not necessarily mean the chemically pure alloying material, but refer toforms in which these materials are commonly used to make ferrous alloys.

After the containers are made up and sealed with a predetermined amountof alloying material and the containers are dried, they are then ready for use as a part of the charge for a furnace in which it is desired to produce a particular iron alloy.

Having described my invention, I claim As an article of manufacture, a package of material for alloying iron, said package'comprising a hermetically sealed container of Portland cement adapted to combine with the slag of a melting furnace for iron, a predetermined amountof metallurgical alloying materialfor iron tightly compressed within said container to form a solid sealed mass adapted to resist substantial crushing forces and shocks, said container being adapted to release the alloying contents at the combining temperature of the said alloying material and iron whereby said alloying material combines with the iron and the particles of the container go into the slag.

ROBERT TURNBULL.

Rccesses may be formed 

